Trending...
- OneVizion Announces Next Phase of Growth as Brad Kitchens Joins Board of Directors
- Mend Colorado Launches Revamped Sports Performance Training Page
- Tacoma City Council Announces City Manager Finalists
Cpl N. Briggs #1177
SPD uses less-lethal tools to take violent suspect into custody downtown
On 03-23-21 just before 6:30PM, SPD responded to the area of Riverside and Main regarding a possible stabbing. A distressed 911 caller stated that a male was armed with a knife, had tried to stab them, and was currently "coming at" them.
The investigation revealed that the suspect approached two strangers after over-hearing their conversation. The suspect inserted himself into the discourse, for unknown reasons quickly became incensed, and then began threatening the victims with a knife. The victims were not injured.
SPD officers quickly converged on the area and were able to locate the suspect on Howard St between Main Ave and Riverside Ave. The suspect was still armed with a knife and refused multiple directives to relinquish it.
SPD was faced with a perilous situation; moments ago the suspect had attacked a random stranger without provocation. The suspect was still armed and in the potentially congested downtown corridor. Ensuring the safety of the innocent public was responding Officers' primary concern. Officers also wanted to maximize the chance for a peaceful resolution. With those two goals in mind, multiple SPD resources were utilized to contain the area and bring in specialty personnel and equipment. On-duty SWAT resources as well as a Hostage Negotiation Team member responded to try and negotiate a peaceful resolution.
More on Washingtoner
Officers and the negotiator attempted to convince the suspect to drop the knife and surrender for approximately a half-hour. The suspect continued to act erratically and refused to put the knife down. The suspect then turned and began walking away from police. Given the extreme risk the suspect posed to the public it was determined the suspect must be promptly apprehended. Multiple less-lethal tools, including an SPD K-9, were utilized to apprehend the person.
This situation was difficult for officers to mitigate due to the uncooperative, armed suspect and the populated setting. While Officers would of preferred the person had complied and therefore force would not have been needed, the availability of less-lethal tools and advanced training meant a potentially lethal encounter was resolved with minimal injury.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Casto. In addition to this incident, Casto was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant stemming from a different felony assault situation. Casto will be booked on his warrant and the new charge of Assault 2nd Degree (additional charges are possible). Casto is an eight-time convicted felon including two previous convictions for felonious assault and two for criminal mischief with a deadly weapon. Casto told officers that he had recently used methamphetamine.
SPD uses less-lethal tools to take violent suspect into custody downtown
On 03-23-21 just before 6:30PM, SPD responded to the area of Riverside and Main regarding a possible stabbing. A distressed 911 caller stated that a male was armed with a knife, had tried to stab them, and was currently "coming at" them.
The investigation revealed that the suspect approached two strangers after over-hearing their conversation. The suspect inserted himself into the discourse, for unknown reasons quickly became incensed, and then began threatening the victims with a knife. The victims were not injured.
SPD officers quickly converged on the area and were able to locate the suspect on Howard St between Main Ave and Riverside Ave. The suspect was still armed with a knife and refused multiple directives to relinquish it.
SPD was faced with a perilous situation; moments ago the suspect had attacked a random stranger without provocation. The suspect was still armed and in the potentially congested downtown corridor. Ensuring the safety of the innocent public was responding Officers' primary concern. Officers also wanted to maximize the chance for a peaceful resolution. With those two goals in mind, multiple SPD resources were utilized to contain the area and bring in specialty personnel and equipment. On-duty SWAT resources as well as a Hostage Negotiation Team member responded to try and negotiate a peaceful resolution.
More on Washingtoner
- Meet Laurent Gabay Global Apparel, Accessories, and Textiles Sourcing — His Firm Fashion Sourcing
- Finland's €1.3 Billion Digital Gambling Market Faces Regulatory Tug-of-War as Player Protection Debate Intensifies
- Angels Of Dirt Premieres on Youtube, Announces Paige Keck Helmet Sponsorship for 2026 Season
- "They Said It Was Impossible": This Bottle Turns Any Freshwater Source Into Ice-Cold, Purified Drinking Water in Seconds
- Patron Saints Of Music Names Allie Moskovits Head Of Sync & Business Development
Officers and the negotiator attempted to convince the suspect to drop the knife and surrender for approximately a half-hour. The suspect continued to act erratically and refused to put the knife down. The suspect then turned and began walking away from police. Given the extreme risk the suspect posed to the public it was determined the suspect must be promptly apprehended. Multiple less-lethal tools, including an SPD K-9, were utilized to apprehend the person.
This situation was difficult for officers to mitigate due to the uncooperative, armed suspect and the populated setting. While Officers would of preferred the person had complied and therefore force would not have been needed, the availability of less-lethal tools and advanced training meant a potentially lethal encounter was resolved with minimal injury.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Casto. In addition to this incident, Casto was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant stemming from a different felony assault situation. Casto will be booked on his warrant and the new charge of Assault 2nd Degree (additional charges are possible). Casto is an eight-time convicted felon including two previous convictions for felonious assault and two for criminal mischief with a deadly weapon. Casto told officers that he had recently used methamphetamine.
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- Why Finland Had No Choice But to Legalize Online Gambling
- High-Margin Energy & Digital Infrastructure Platform Created after Merger with Established BlockFuel Energy, Innovation Beverage Group (NAS DAQ: IBG)
- iFLO Pro Launches Its Groundbreaking iFLO Pro Mini At The 2026 AHR Expo In Las Vegas
- TL International Group Becomes First Global Operator to Fully Migrate to Pulsant's Dedicated Car Rental Cloud
- Diveroli Investment Group Files 13D in PetMed Express, Highlights Strategic Value, Asset Floor, and Multiple Takeover Pathways
- Deep Learning Robotics (DLRob) Announces Pre-Launch of Zero-Teach and Teach-by-Demonstration Technology for Kitting Applications
- The Quasar Dipole Phenomenon is likely just a complex systematics artifact
- The Rise of Comprehensive Home Water Treatment Systems
- Yazaki Innovations to Introduce First-Ever Prefabricated Home Wiring System to U.S. Residential Market in 2026
- Bisnar Chase Named 2026 Law Firm of the Year by Best Lawyers
- Ace Industries Welcomes Jack Polish as Controller
- Senseeker Machining Company Acquires Axis Machine to Establish Machining Capability for Improved Supply Chain Control and Shorter Delivery Times
- VC Fast Pitch Is Coming to Maryland on March 26th
- Patent Bar Exam Candidates Achieve 30% Higher Pass Rates with Wysebridge's 2026 Platform
- Municipal Carbon Field Guide Launched by LandConnect -- New Revenue Streams for Cities Managing Vacant Land
- Hoy Law Wins Supreme Court Decision Establishing Federal Trucking Regulations as the Standard of Care in South Dakota
- Tacoma City Council Announces City Manager Finalists
- City of Tacoma Observes Presidents Day on February 16
- Dr. Rashad Richey's Indisputable Shatters Records, Over 1 Billion YouTube Views, Top 1% Podcast, 3.2 Million Viewers Daily
- Grand Opening: New Single-Family Homes Now Open for Sale at Heritage at Manalapan